116. Cash Pad, TV Show Renovation & the Austin STR Market with Lauren Noble

Ever wonder what it’s like on the other side of these home renovation shows?

Lauren Noble is a Superhost from Austin, Texas whose short-term rental was featured on the CNBC show “Cash Pad” with the Bachelorette's JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers in the fall of 2019. Hosting was supposed to be a fun part time project for her, but it has turned into a busy side gig that has jump started her desire to get more involved in real estate investing. She’s also an ICU nurse and first-time mom! She runs the Airbnb by herself, with the occasional help of her husband, a small business owner.

Because they weren’t exactly planning on getting into the rental business right away, there were a lot of things they weren’t prepared for. Their first guest taught them a ton of lessons. It’s great to have plastic containers for food. You need to give people multiple options for cooking food. Don’t use towels that will show stains quickly. And, in general, she learned how available you need to be for your guests.

If you have the space to rent but you’re nervous about who you’re letting into your property, Lauren totally understands. She will always check their reviews from other hosts and will look them up on social media, just in case. The reality is, most of the time, you will not even see your guest. She also keeps in touch with her neighbors to let them know what is going on and that they are free to reach out if they notice anything or have any complaints.

You don’t have to be featured on a renovation show to start your own short-term rental business. If you have the space, start thinking about how you can utilize it, and know that it doesn’t have to be perfect, right out of the gate. Listen to your guests and be willing to adjust based on their needs. That’s how you create a winning property.

Resources:

• Airbnb: The Boho Bungalow in Great Hills
• Full Opening: The first seven minutes of the 'Austin Boho Bungalow' episode
• Instagram: @atxbohobungalow
• Visit thanksforvisiting.me/workshop to take your hosting to the next level!
• #STRShareSunday: @cozycoastalhp